Religion Based Dreams

Religion Based Dreams

Dreams are fascinating. They almost always border on reality. There is a clear logic, and yet they push the limits of reality. Though they are beautifully magical and sometimes impossible, they stay pretty close to reality. This is not to say that every dream is necessarily prophetic, but we know now that every dream does at least give you insight into your own psyche teasing you into thinking about how nice it would be if it were real

Dreams are special and very personal. Despite the private nature of this phenomenon, I like remembering my dreams. The first things I do when I wake up, I try to recall details of my dreams, for they are mostly in signs, symobols and abstract. My dreams are colorful, beautiful, scary, heavenly, ambitious, personal and adventurous add to it a couple of nightmares too. Sometimes I think my dreams are the reason why I like watching films and making films, yesto reach out to others.

I followed and interpreted my dreams to come to an understanding to solve, accept, adjust, reject, learn, unlearn real life and sometimes also possible to make things happen which were not bound to happen for real. . If you pay attention to your dreams, you may find out about motivations, desires, ambitions, and fears that you never even knew you had. You may also find solutions to problems and creative inspiration. Many authors, filmmakers, businessmen have said that the work idea to them being successful and an achiever in that particular profession, came to them in their dreams. Learn to pay attention to your own dream and who knows? You may have a dream to be interpreted, an idea to be worked on, so known your dreams.

Hinduism

For a Hindu mystic, dream interpretation can provide a window into the future. Objects, characters, and emotions that appear in a person’s dreams all take on symbolic meanings to be analyzed and interpreted. Some symbols are harbingers of great luck or grave danger, while others may predict a mix of fortunes. Find out what your future may hold with this Hindu dream interpretation encyclopedia.

(The 12th house and its lord represent, sleep of all types, insomnia and what are known as veridical or prophetic dreams. In the Hindu scriptures, particularly the Puranas, dreams have been discussed as deeply as astrology but the 12th house connection has not been stressed. It will be useful to work in this area both for mental disturbances, sleep disorders and for an illuminating understanding of dream phenomena. KN RAO)

In Sanskrit there is a gold mine of literature relating to dreams which in their depth, vastness, range and interpretations, encompass all that world famous psychologists developed in the last about one hundred years. The difference of course is that in Sanskrit they are written pithily, even aphoristically and, yet has clarity of meaning flowing from it. It is not possible to make a survey of the entire literature in an article. The present paper is based on Agni and Brahma Vaivarta Puranas.

States of the Soul
Dream state (avastha chathushtaya) is one of the four states of the soul; the first is waking; the second dreaming the third, dreamlessness.

The fourth state is known as thureeya in which the atman in its purest form, detached from the earlier states, subsists alone and by itself. The first three states cover the totality of the experiences of the soul in the relative world.

Thus dreams are experiences of man in sleep where there is no feeling of his physical existence.

Causes of dreams
The causes of dreams are many and they need not spring as products always merely of physical and mental states, though these two states have their primacy of importance.

Physical and mental: Bad dreams are generally seen in fever or acute pain. Dreams are induced by external objects also. In an unfavourable or dirty atmosphere bad dreams occur. At the time of sleep sweet sounds give sweet dreams and hot words bad ones. Even an external sweet, hot or cool touch can show its reaction in dreams. An individual’s disturbed mind can also be the cause for dreaming of two types:

1. Due to experiences in the waking state.
2. Due to desires (unfulfilled) buried in the mind. When man sleeps pondering over the objects he has seen, they appear as dreams. Sometimes even an unfulfilled desire appears as a dream.

Yad Vaanchati divaa martyo Veekshathe vaa Karoti va,

Thath Svapne Thadhabhyaasaadh bhrute Vaatha Karoti va

Shubham va Yadhi Papam Yannrunaam hrdi Samasthithan,

Sugooddamapi Thageyam Svapna Vaakyadhatha madhath

Freud underlines and emphasizes lust as the main basis of all dreams. Hatred, desire, jealousy and other disturbed feelings can also trigger off dreams.

The phenomenon of dream is beautifully delineated in the commentary of Prasthaspada on Vaisheshika sutras. Tired physically or mentally, when man sleeps at night for rest or for the digestion of food, sense organs merge into the mind. The functions of prana and apana continue. Mental experiences without the sense objects constitute dreams.

Dreams as aid to medical diagnosis
According to the same Vaisheshika philosophy, dreams are caused by any one of the following.

1. Samskara Pata Svaat or previous experiences.
2. Dhatu doshat or the disorder of the elements.
3. Adhrishtat or the unknown (invisible after effects of past acts).

Samskaras
In the dreams of a lustful person, the sensual objects his mind dwells on appear in variegated patterns in his dreams. Generally dreams are related to the experiences of the dreamer. Whatever good things he sees in dreams, emanate from his good samskaras (dharma). All bad dreams are due to bad samskaras (adharma.)

The detection of vaatha, pithha and kapha of the dreamer can be detected from the types of dreams he gets. It helps in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The reference here is to ayurvedic treatment, obviously.

Adhrishta
Mysterious, enigmatic and baffling dreams are attributed to Adhrishta.

C.G. Jung: Among psychologists of the west only C.G. Jung had taken a superior view and adopted a different line of interpretation. Dreams, according to him, are not mere embodiment of suppressed wishes and fears, but they convey much more.

Ayurvedic classification of dreams
In ayurveda, there is a reference to seven types of dreams in the classic Charak Samhita :

Dhristam Shruthanubhutham cha Prarthitham

Kalpitham Thatha

Bhaavikam Doshajam chaiva Svapnam Sapthavidham Vidhuhu

1. Seen by the eyes.
2. Heard by the ears.
3. Experienced by other sense organs.
4. Desired ones.
5. Imagined by the mind.
6. Indicator of good or events that are to take place.
7. Arising out of humours or vaatha (wind), pithha (bile) and kapha (phlegm).

Puranas-based Dream Interpretations
Puranas, the undying sources of spiritual wisdom and such metaphysical truths which modern man under the spell of physical sciences finds it difficult to comprehend, have created in the Hindu mind and psyche a clear division into good and bad dreams of various types. In a nutshell, good dreams are harbingers of good tidings while bad ones can bring grief. In Agni Purana and Brahma Vaivarta Purana, there are many verses indicating different results in chapters on dreams.

There are references to meaning of dreams in also chapters not dealing specifically with dreams.

Auspicious dreams
Some of the auspicious dreams are:

1. Riding or mounting the peak of a mountain, of a palace, of an elephant or a bull or climbing the top of a tree having white flowers, or flying skyward.

ShailaPraasaadanagashva Vrshabhaarohanam hitam

2. Having many heads.
3. Having hair turned white.
4. Holding the Sun, the Moon or the stars.
5. Holding the water of a stream spring from the earth.
6. Success in discussion, gambling or in a battle.
7. Getting coronated.
8. Breaking one’s head or seeing one’death.
9. Being burnt by fire.
10. Gain of royal insignia.
11. Seeing a clear sky.
12. Seeing a king, an elephant, a horse, a bull, a cow or gold.

Auspicious dreams of Jamadagni Parashurama

1. Seeing himself climbing a fruits-laden tree.
2. Boarding a tree.
3. Sandalwood paste sprinkled all over his body.
4. Eating betel leaf.
5. Seeing himself in the midst of a river with fully blown lotuses.
6. Receiving blessings from a Brahmin.
7. Seeing flowers, fruits and lamps.
8. Fleeing out of fear after being bitten by a scorpion or fish.

After the dream of Vishnu, Lord Shiva or Lord Surya or Lord Ganesha. One should recite Purusha Sukta or Gayatri mantra.

Prayers to the sacred river, the Ganga, is also mentioned as a remedy.

Dreams and their results

The indications of different kinds of dreams are specifically referred to in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. For example:

Happy results
1. If one dreams of entering a red city or a sea or sees himself drinking nectar, he will hear good news and gain wealth.

Nagarm Pravishethraktham Samudram Vaa Sudham Pibeth

Shubha Vaartham Vaapnoti

Vipulamchaarthamaalabheth

2. Seeing a mare, hen, or a female heron, one gets a wife. If one sees oneself fettered it is a promise of gain of a respectable position and birth of male children. 3. Freedom from diseases are promised if a dream the Sun or the Moon is sighted.

Sapne Surya Vidhum dhrshtwa muchyate Vyadhibandhanath

Calamities

Different types of calamities are also indicated by various dreams. Thus,

3. Deities running and dancing, crying and yelling indicate death
4. When in a dream, one is harmed by horned animals or camel, children and men, fear from the king is indicated.

When to expect the results of Dreams ?
The Brahmavaivarta Purana mentions the time of the fruition of dreams. The basis of the timing is the time when a dream occurs.

1. Dreams seen in the first part of the night will come into effect within one year.
2. Dreams seen in the second part of the night will fructify within six months.
3. Dreams seen in the third part of the night will fructify within three months.
4. Dreams seen in the fourth part of the night will fructify within a fortnight.
5. Dreams seen at dawn will fructify within ten days.
6. Dreams seen during daytime will come out true.

Dine manasi Yad drshtam Tat sarva labhate dhruvam

7. If a bad and a good dream are seen in one night, the last one will take effect.

Ekasyaamatha ched raathrow shubham vaa

Yadhi Vaashubham

Pashchaad dhrishtasthu Yastatra Thasya

Paakam Vinirdhisheth

Thasmaaththu shobhane Svapne Pashchchatt

Svaapo na shasyate

8. Having seen a good dream one sleeps again, it becomes fruitless.

Relationship between Dream and Reality
Dream is a means and reality is an achievement. Dreaming is easier than the reality. Dream is ephemeral. Events in dream appear to be real. There is a close relationship between the dream and reality. The analysis of a dream can be done better on the basis of happenings in waking state. And on the basis of dreams, the experiences in the waking state can be understood better. Dreams are not useless. Even modern psychologists admit this. Good dreams gladden the heart. Bad dreams also serve as an outlet for the suppressed feelings with the result that the poise of the mind and the body is maintained. Dreams are helpful as they aid good sleep. Dreams occur due to external stimulants. If dreams do no occur, the external stimulants may affect sleep and memory.

Even in ordinary life also, dreams aid achievement by enhancing the will-power. Man at first dreams of the goal. Constant dreaming over the goal provides will power and strength in overcoming the obstacles and transforms the dream into a reality. So dreams are a necessity in man’s life.

As long as the mind does not become pure, till then dreaming is natural and is needed for preservation of health

Extracts from Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa

Auspicious dreams

Nanda asked :

1. Tell me, O Lord, which sort of dreams gives happiness and merit to the seer and produces good results.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied :

2-3. My father! The Sāmaveda is regarded an authority in all matters. Now, please listen to me discussing the auspicious dreams that always give meritorious results, as described in the Puṇya Kāṇḍa of Kanva recension of the Sāmaveda.

4. Man attains the merit of a dip in the holy Ganges if he hears the description of dreams that yield various pious results.

5-6. Dreams of the first quarter (Yama or Prahara) of the night show results in a year, of the second quarter in eight months, of the third in three months, of the fourth in a fortnight, of the dawn in ten days. Dreams of early morning meet immediate results if the seer wakes up after the dream.

8. Dreams seen by a man sick, frightened, naked, with disheveled hair or smeared with excreta, become futile.

9. A dream becomes futile if the dreamer falls asleep again after the dream or due to his utter foolishness discloses it to some body else during the same night.

10. The disclosure of his dream to one hailing from Kaśyapa clan brings about danger, that of his dream to one distressed, distress and that of his dream to a vile person, disease to the dreamer.

11-12. (He) contracts fright by disclosing the dream to an enemy, quarrel by doing it to a fool (or an illiterate person), loss of wealth by doing the same to a woman; he gets into fear from thieves if he discloses it at night, bereavement if, while drowsy, but attains desired object if he discloses the dream to a learned man. But, O Nanda, dreams though good should not be disclosed to a person who belongs to the Kaśyapa lineage even if he is learned.

13-14. A man receives wealth if he (in his dream) rides an ox, an elephant or a horse, or climbs up a tree or a mountain or eats or wails. He gets filed rich in harvest if he receives a lyre (VINA) in dream.

15. He gets wealth if he is injured with weapons or smeared with excrement or blood or suffers from boils or biting of worms.

15. He gets wealth if he is injured with weapons or smeared with excrement or blood or suffers from boils or biting of worms.

16-17. He receives favourable news and immense wealth if he performs the following in dream: viz. incest, wedding, drinking of semen mixed with urine, entering a city (at night) or hell and drinking of blood mixed with urine or nectar.

18-20. Fame and vast wealth will be attained by one who sees in dream the following : an elephant, a king, gold, an ox, a cow, a lamp, food, fruits, flowers, a maiden, an umbrella, a chariot, a flat, or his relatives. He gets fortune if he sees (in a dream) a pitcher full of water, a twice born person (i.e., a Brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya or a vaiśya), fire, flowers, betel, a temple, white, Paddy, a dagger or a public woman. He also gets merit and wealth if he sees (in a dream) cow milk or clarified butter (ghṛta)

21. He will definitely become a king if he enjoys curd, milk, ghee, honey, sweets or sunned rice from a leaf of lotus plant in dream.

22. A man will attain desired objects, receive pleasant news and much money if he partakes of meat of birds of human beings in dreams.

23. He will get the same results (as described in the preceding verse) he if walks along a road with an umbrella or a pair of shoes or a sharp edged sword, in his dream.

24. One becomes very prominent if he swims with the help of a raft in dream and the dreaming of a tree bearing fruits leads one to attainment of wealth.

25. One who is bitten by a white snake in his right hand (in dream) gets very soon a modest and sweet-tongued wife.

26. Dream of a mare, a hen, a female curlew gives a wife and that of being chained gives good renown.

27. One attains wealth if he sees himself to be bitten by a snake in dream and gets rid of diseases if he sees the sun or the moon in his dream.

28. He who partakes in dream rice with curd or porridge from withered leaf of the lotus plant on the bank of a river or a lack becomes a king.

29. He, who sees (in dream) a leech, a scorpion, or a snake, gets wealth, a son, victory and renown.

30. He, who is injured in dream by horned or fanged animals, boars or monkeys, definitely becomes a king and gets vast wealth.

32. Wealth is obtained as a result of seeing in dream, wine, blood, gold and excrement and victory is achieved by seeing an image or a symbolic representation of Siva (Siva linga)

33. One, who sees in dream a mango or a marmelos tree bearing flowers and fruits, gets wealth. He also gets wealth, intellect and prosperity if he sees burning flames in a dream.

34. Wealth is obtained by seeing the fruit of Amalaki or haritaki (embolic myrobalan) and lotus flower in a dream. A man gets whatever he sees in a dream offered to him by deities, Brāhmaṇas, cows, the manes or monks.

35. One attains prosperity and happiness by embracing, in a dream a woman wearing white clothes and white garlands and white unguents.

36. He, who embraces a woman clothed and garlanded in yellow, attains prosperity and happiness. (welfare.)

37. The dreaming of all white objects excepting ashes, bones and cotton is auspicious; while that of black objects excepting a cow, an elephant, a deity and a Brāhmaṇa is inauspicious.

38. One, who finds in a dream a celestial woman or a Brāhmaṇa lady with a smiling face and jewelry on to enter into his apartment gets good friends.

39. Goddess Durgā herself is pleased with him who enjoys in dream the pleasure of a Brāhmaṇa, a Brāhmaṇa lady, a deity, a celestial maiden, a girl of eight wearing ornaments studded with jewels.

40. He, to whom a pleased Brāhmaṇa or a smiling Brāhmaṇa lady offers in dream a fruit, gets a male-child.

41. O Nanda ! He, who is blessed by a Brāhmaṇa in dream, gets the results of that blessing and definitely obtains riches.

42-43. One, who sees (in dream) a contented Brāhmaṇa entering his house, is blessed with the entrance of Nārāyaṇa, Siva and Brahma to his house and obtains vast property, renown and welfare, he also gathers bliss, name and fame at every step.

44. If one chances to get Surabhi in dream, he obtains landed property and a devoted wife.

45. It is ascertained in the Vedas that one who is lifted by an elephant with its trunk and placed on its own head, becomes a king.

21. Ailments are sure to him who dreams of thorns, vultures, crows, bears, monkeys, mules or pus and dirt of human body.

22-23. One suffers from calamities as a result of seeing in dream, a broken vessel, a wound, a sudra, a patient suffering from ulceros proriasis, a piece of red cloth, a person with matted hair, a lion, a pig, a buffalo, deep darkness, an awful car crass and male or female organ.

24. Death is impending on him, who finds in dream an ugly looking and shabbily clad ‘mleccha’ or a messenger of Yama (the king of the dead) hold a pasa weapon in his hand.

25. A person finds himself in distress as a result of receiving farewell in dream from an angry Brāhmaṇa or Brāhmaṇa lady, boy or girl, son or daughter.

26. Death is sure to him, who sees in dream, black flowers, a garland of black flowers, an armed soldier and an ugly looking mleccha woman.

27. One, who sees in dream playing on various musical instruments, dancing, singing, a musician clad in red, a jovial beating of ‘mṛdañga’ surely experiences sorrows.

28. A dreamer of the dead body of a dead person dies. Brother’s death happens to him, who catches fish or the like, in dream.

29. Death is the result of a dream of a spirit assuming a beheaded body, a person with indecently disheveled hair or one dancing rapidly.

30. His days are numbered, who is embraced in a dream by a dead male or female, or a dreadful mleccha with dark complexion.

31. One suffers from financial loss or gets physical diseases as a result of losing teeth or hair in dream.

32. Troubles from the king befall him, who is, in dream, chased by a horned or fanged animal or by boys or men.

33. Sorrow befalls a man, as a result of a dream of a tree cut-down or about to fall, hail, husk, a razor, red hot cinder or a shower of ashes.

34. Sorrow befalls him too, who witnesses in dream the fall of a house or a mountain, a dreadful comet or the broken trunk of a tree.

35 Distress is sure to him who finds himself, in dream, falling from a chariot, a house, a mountain, a tree, a cow, an elephant, a house or a mule.

36. Death is inevitable to come to those who in dream fall from a height into a funeral pile full of ashes and cinder, or a pit filled with salt (or fuller’s earth) or on a heap of lime.

37. He, from whose head an umbrella is forcibly removed by a rogue in dream, suffers the death of his father, or preceptor or king.

38. Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, leaves him, who finds, in dream, Surabhi leaving his house along with her calf, being frightened.

39. Death is inevitable to him who finds himself to be carried away being tied with ropes, by the messengers of Yama, (the king of the Hades) or by foreigners.

40. He, who is angrily cursed, in a dream by an astrologer, a Brāhmaṇa lady or his spiritual guide, will certainly be endangered.

41. Death is inevitable to him also on whose body falls in dream a crow, a dog, or a bear with a motive to harm him.

42. He, who is chased, in dream, by angry buffaloes, bears, camels, hogs, or donkeys, will surely fall ill.

Muslim

“True dreams are from Allah, and bad dreams are from Shaitan (Satan).”

During the Middle Ages in Judeo-Christian societies dreams were thought of as evil, temptations from Satan. Moving into the 19th century dreams were dismissed as symptoms of anxiety, that is, until Sigmund Freud reintroduced the notion of dreams having significance. In the Muslim world however dreams were thought of a little differently. In Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry there are frequent descriptions of shamanic dream visions of such things as ritual death and rebirth. The role of the shaman (a person who claims to have access to and influence in the world of the supernatural) included dream interpreter and poet, so it is little wonder that Prophet Muhammad frequently repeated that he was not a poet. The advent of Islam cleared up many misconceptions and incorrect practices that existed in Arab society not the least of which was the pervading attitude to dreams and their interpretation.

Islam says that dreams can be meaningful but the scholars have warned that not all dreams should be considered as such. Renowned Islamic scholar Ibn Sirin, an expert on dream interpretation mentions in his classical book on the subject that dream interpretation is a difficult science and that scholars treat it with the upmost care. Prophet Muhammad taught us about dreams, also with the upmost care, and he mentions dreams and dreaming often.

The Muslim believes in the truth of the Dreams, the Quran tells the Muslims the story of the prophet Joseph and how his early dreams when he was a child became true after many long years, and also how is Joseph interpreted to the two prisoner’s dreams, and his interpretation occurred to them in the life.

Muslim believes that the God created all the dreams either bad or good ones, but some dreams are from the dreamers’ self, like if he is frighten or worry about something or if he ate a lot before sleeping. which we call it nightmare and never occurs in the real life.

Muslims believe that the one who has the truest dream is always the honest in his speaking and never lies, as the prophet Muhammad said.

The Truest Dream:

The prophet M. said that “the truest dream is in the early morning”, and he also said “the truest dream is in the afternoon because the God revealed to me in afternoon”.

The prophet Muhammad said (If anyone dreamed a bad dream he has to spat to his left three times and say “Oh God I ask you the best in this dream and I ask your help for it’s bad, then it will never occurs in the reality”. As the Prophet Muhammad said (the supplication struggles with the destiny in the sky).

The dreams comes on :

Something happened in the past, to remind the dreamer, or in the present situation, or in the future to tell what will occur like death, rain, poverty, richness, highness.

Some people dreams the opposite in their dreams, if he dreamed that he is laughing it means something bad will occur which will make him sad or cry , vice versa.

Some people dreams the exact thing, so everyone knows the kind of his dreams through time!.

The dreamer has not to lie or add something in his dreams because it is a revelation from the God.

Dreaming of the prophets

Dreaming of the prophets are either warning or good news for the dreamer. If anyone saw any prophet in a good look, it means he is –the dreamer-in good situation and the God loves his deeds in the life, if he saw any prophet looks strange or sad, it means that the dreamer has bad deeds, and he will be punished a lot.

If someone dreamed of Jesus : it means that the dreamer is good and helpful man, and travels a lot, and he has a knowledge of medicine and other sciences.

If some one dreamed of the virgin Mary :it means that he will be in highness among the people, and he will get everything he wants, if a pregnant woman dreamed of Mary she will get a wise boy.

If someone dreamed of the wise Daniel: it means he will get fortune and knowledge of dream’s interpretation, and he will win against big enemy. Or he will be prince or minister.

Prophet Muhammad said (If anyone saw me in the dream he will never go to the hell in the afterlife).

If someone dreamed of Prophet Muhammad it means: if he has debt he will pay it, if he is ill he will be in good health, if the dreamer in a struggle he will win.

Dreams of Angels:

To see the angels in dreams in good look, it means something will occur to the dreamer, get power and highness, good news and winning after giving up, good health after disease, or safe after fear, or may be go to pilgrim.

If the dreamer saw the angel of death looks happy, it means the dreamer will live long time, or he will die as a martyr, if he saw the angel of death looks angry the dreamer will die with many bad deeds, if he struggled with the angel of death and the angel won it means the dreamer will die, if he didn’t win the dreamer will be very ill but will not die.

If he saw many angels in a village or town it means the death of a scholar, or a good believer, or an innocent one will be killed there.

It is from Prophet Muhammad that we learn that dreams are of three types, known in Arabic as, Rahmani (from God), Nafsani (from the self) and Shaytani (from Satan). He said, “Dreams are of three types: a dream from God; a dream which causes distress and which comes from Satan; and a dream which comes from what a person thinks about when he is awake, and he sees it when he is asleep.” Prophet Muhammad continues to teach us about the significance of dreams quite pragmatically.

“If any one of you sees a dream that he dislikes, let him blow to his left three times, and seek refuge with God from Satan three times, and turn over from the side on which he was sleeping.” The importance of a dream is usually in direct proportion to the impression it makes on the dreamer. Most dreams happen under normal circumstances and have no real value or need for interpretation. They derive from our worldly experiences and activities, a person spoken about, a book read or TV program watched. Other dreams are fantasies or illusions, playful and harmless. And then there are the dreams that are prophetic, dreams that appear to predict the future. These dreams cannot be readily understood unless a person has the necessary skills or knowledge

17 Rules of Dream Interpretations

Ibn Qutaybah ad-Dinawari رحمهالله says in his book about dream interpretations, “There is nothing in which people deal with from the different sciences that is more obscure, delicate, exalted, noble, difficult and problematic than dreams because they are a type of revelation and type of Prophethood.”

Some scholars tried to give explanation to this ratio of 1:46. We have no way to find out that if their explanation is correct or not. Prophet hood of Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم extended from 40 to 63 years meaning for 23 years. We know from Seerah that six months before becoming a Prophet, Messenger of Allah صلىاللهعليه و سلمwas seeing dreams that would come out to be true on a very frequent basis so much so that he would see a dream one night and it would come to be true the next morning. So the ratio of 6 months to 23 years is 1:46.

1) There are 3 types of dreams: Imam at-Tirmidhi رحمهالله narrates from Muhammad Ibn Sirin رحمهالله who narrates from Abu Hurairah رضياللهتعالىعنه that Prophet صلىاللهعليهوسلم said, “There are three types of dreams: 1) True Dreams 2) A dream in which a person is speaking to himself (i.e. whatever you were thinking about in the day time, you see at night) 3) A dream from shaytaan in which he wants to make you sad ”

In one hadith it is mentioned that one should stand up and pray and in another the he should not mention it to anyone.

Abu Salamah رضياللهعنه once said, “Sometimes I would see a dream that would be heavier on me than carrying a mountain. But since I heard this hadith I wouldn’t care about the bad dream I would see.”

Narrated Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri رضياللهعنه: The Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “If anyone of you sees a dream that he likes, then it is from Allah, and he should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others; but if he sees something else, i.e., a dream that he dislikes, then it is from Satan, and he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil, and he should not mention it to anybody, for it will not harm him.” [Sahih Muslim]

Q1) A question arises, is every dream that a believer sees good?

A1) Al Muhallab رحمهالله says, “Most of the dreams of the righteous people are good dreams because sometimes a righteous person could see a dream that is meaningless but that is not very frequent because shaytaan’s control on them is very weak. And the opposite is true with other people because shaytaan has a stronger grasp over them. People are of the categories:

1) The Prophets: all of their dreams are truthful and but sometimes they need interpretation. The good dream is divided into 2 categories:
a) Direct dream: something one would see in a dream and the exact scene repeats itself in day-time when you are awake and this dream does not need interpretation.
b) A dream the comes in symbols and it needs to be interpreted.

2) The righteous: most of the time their dreams are truthful (most of them need to interpret) and sometimes their dream are direct.

3) Rest of the people: most of their dreams are not true but some of them could be true.” [Fath al-Bari bi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari]

2) Do not mention the dream for interpretation except to a scholar or a person who would advise you sincerely.

Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “You should not mention this dream to an envious person…”

There is also evidence for this in the Qur`an: (Remember) when Yûsuf (Joseph) saidto his father: “O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me.” He (the father) said: “O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Shaitân (Satan) is to man an open enemy! {Surat al-Yusuf, ayatyn 4-5}

3) Seeing Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم:

Narrated Anas رضياللهعنه the Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “Whoever has seen me in a dream, then no doubt, he has seen me, for Satan cannot imitate my shape. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Q2) There is an issue here, what if a person sees Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم and he feels that it is him but his description in the dream if different than the one we know of from ahadith. So is the person in the dream Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم?
A2) Az-Zuhri رحمهالله says that Ibn Sirin رحمهالله said, “If you see him according to his description.” An-Nawawi رحمهالله, however, has a contrary view and he says, “As long as you felt in your dream that the person you saw was Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم then it is him even if he comes in a different form.” Ibn Taymiyyah رضياللهعنه supports the view of Ibn Sirin رحمهالله

4) A repetition of a dream is a sign of its truth. It does not matter if the same person sees the dream more than once or more than one person.

‘AbduLlah ibn ‘Umar رضياللهعنهما reported that some people were shown the Night of Qadr as being in the last seven days (of the month of Ramadan). The Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “I see that your dreams strengthen each other that Night of Qadr is in the last seven nights of Ramadhan so whoever searches for it, would search for it in the last seven days (of Ramadan).” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Also the dream about Adhan when 2 Sahabah ضياللهعنهما saw the same dream.

5) Q3) When is the most expected time to see a righteous dream? At night or day time? Are all the times equal (whether seen at the beginning of the night or end of the day)?

A3) Ibn Sirin رحمهالله said, “Dreams of day time are equal to the dreams of night.” [Sahih Muslim]

6) Ibn Battal رحمهالله said, “Dreams are of two types: a clear evident dream like somebody would dream about himself giving dates to someone and during the day time he would give somebody dates. This type of dream doesn’t need any interpretation. Secondly, a dream that comes in symbols and this type you would understand its meaning unless you get it interpreted by a person who has knowledge and experience dream interpretation because sometimes the symbols are very delicate and sophisticated.”

Like the dream Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم saw in which he was drinking milk from a vessel and when some of it was remaining, he gave it ‘Umar رضياللهعنه. Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم interpreted it as knowledge. This means that Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم absorbed the knowledge and he mentions that the milk was so much that it started flowing beneath his nails. So he had so much knowledge in him, that it started flowing from him.

1)Al-Khattabi رحمهالله said, “The meaning of ‘When Time approaches…” is the time of night and the time of day. When the time of night approaches the length the time of day, then the dreams of the believer will be true. These are the two times when flowers open up and when fruits are ripe. The scholars of dream interpretation actually state that these are the two time when the dreams are most likely to be true.”

2)Al-Qurtubi رحمهالله says, “What is meant by this hadith, and Allah سبحانه و تعالى knows best, is the end of times and it is talking about the group of believers that will be with ‘Isa ibn Maryam عليهسلام after he kills dajjal.”

Ibn Abi Jamrah رحمهالله says,” The reason why the believer sees true dreams at the time is because the believer will be ghareeb (stranger) as was mentioned in the hadith, ‘Islam began as something strange and it will return to the way it began being strange so give glad tidings to the strangers so give glad tidings to the strangers.’”

Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani رحمهالله comments on all the opinions by saying, “Whenever the times are difficult for the believer, he will see dreams that are true frequently because he needs help. When the believer is alone, when the times are difficult, when you don’t find people supporting on truth, then Allah سبحانه و تعالى will inspire you to give you glad tidings through the good dreams you would see and this is to give the believers in those difficult and testing times gives the believers strength, it gives them confidence, it gives them hope so they would see a lot of dreams that would come true.”

For example the brothers who are doing Jihad feesabiliLlah see a lot of dreams that come out to be true because they are being tested by Allah سبحانه و تعالى thus He assists them.

9) Most of the times, if the dream is a glad tiding from Allah سبحانه و تعالى it would take a long for it to occur while if it is a warning it would occur swiftly.

For example Yusuf عليهسلام’s dream took a very long time for it to happen around 40 years. Some scholars say this is because Allah سبحانه و تعالى gives the believer glad tidings early on to give him confidence and hope, to inspire him in his life. While if it is a warning, you would see it and it would occur very soon so that it would be the reason of fear in your heart.

10) Dreams are glad tidings and warnings but cannot be used as a source of Shari‘ah.

Ash-Shatbi رحمهالله says regarding this, “Benefit of the dream in giving the believer a glad tiding or warning not in legislation and judgement or rulings.”

11) If one sees a dream that is very long like a movie or someone is chasing you and it never ends then most likely that dream doesn’t mean anything. True dreams are short and concise.

12) The dream of a believer pleases him but it does not make him proud or over confident.

Ibn Muflih رضياللهعنه mentions in his book Adaab ash-Shar‘iyah, “Ibrahim al-Humaydi was righteous man and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal visited him so Ibrahim told Imam Ahmad, ‘My mother has seen a dream for you where she saw this-and-that for you,’ and then he mentioned Jannah. Imam Ahmad said, ‘My brother, Sahl ibn Salamah, people used to see dreams for him similar to what you mentioned and in the end he ended up shedding blood so the dream pleases the believer, it doesn’t make him boastful.”

13) Dream interpretation is not certain but presumptive and Allah سبحانه و تعالى says in Surah Yusuf: “And he said to the one he presumed to be saved…” {ayah # 42}

Ibn Kathir رحمهالله mentions in his An-Nihayah wal Bidayah that there was a caliph (not a good one) of Ibn ‘Abbas who saw dream that he was climbing a dream with 28 steps. So he had that dream interpreted. The one who interpreted his dream told him that the meaning of this dream is, “You will rule for 28 years.” But he died six months later. He died at the age of 28 so the steps were representing his age not the time for his rule.

There was a woman who dreamt that her daughter would break three banners (flag carried in war time). So she went to Ibn Sirin رحمهالله and he interpreted that dream saying, “If her dream is true, it means that she would marry three noble men all of them would be killed.” When her daughter grew up, she married Yazid ibn al-Muhallab who was a great leader in ‘Iraq and he was killed. Later on, she married ‘Amr ibn Yazid at-Taymi and he was killed. Her third marriage was with al-Hasan ibn ‘Uthman ibn ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf رحمهالله, the grandson of the Sahabi ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Awf. She had an argument with him and she told him, “In the Name of Allah, you would be killed.” He asked her the reason and she told him about her dream. He said, “Alright, I am going to divorce you since you think I am going to be killed now!” Finally, she married al-‘Abbas ibn ‘AbdiLlah ibn Harith ibn Nawfal ibn Harith ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib and he was killed.

One man saw in a dream, during the plague, that caskets were coming out of his house and the number of them was equal to the number of his family. So, he interpreted the dream that his entire family would be killed in the plague. And the dream started to manifest itself. His family were dying one after the other and all the bodies were coming out of his house exactly how he saw in his dream until he was the last member of his family left so he was pretty sure that he would be killed by the plague because his dream was, until now, true. But a thief came into his house and was struck by the plague, he fell ill in his house, he died and he was the last body to leave the house and not the person who saw the dream.

14) It is haram and a great sin to claim that one has a seen a dream whilst he has not seen it or to lie in it.

Narrated ‘AbduLlah ibn ‘Abbas رضياللهعنه that the Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “Whoever claims to have seen a dream that he has not seen, would be told to tie between two hairs on the Day of Judgement.”

15) A dream could be seen by a person but it could be for someone else.
Al Hakim and ‘AbduLlah Ibn Mubarak narrate that someone saw a dream for Abu Jahl that he became a Muslims and pledged allegiance to Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم. But this never happened. So this dream was for his son, ‘Ikrimah رضياللهعنه who became a Muslim and pledged allegiance to Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم later on.

A dream was seen for Usayd bin Abil ‘Aas that he became the governor of Makkah and he never did but his son ‘Attab became the governor of Makkah.

16) Same symbol in a dream could mean different things for different people

For example: A man came to Ibn Sirin رحمهالله and told him that he had seen himself in a dream giving Adhan. Ibn Sirin رحمهالله replied, “You will make Hajj.” Another man came with the same dream and Ibn Sirin رحمهالله replied, “You are a thief!” Ibn Sirin رحمهالله was asked the reason of him giving different interpretations of the same dream to different people and he said, “Because I saw in the first man’s face righteousness and Allah سبحانه و تعالى says in the Qur`an that Ibrahim عليهسلام made adhan calling people to Hajj so I interpreted this mean that this person would make Hajj. Whilst I saw evil on the face of the other man and Allah سبحانه و تعالى says in Surah Yusuf, ‘then a crier cried: ‘O you (in) the caravan! Surely, you are thieves!’ so I interpreted it to mean that this person is a thief.’”

17) Prophet صلىاللهعليه و سلم said, “A dream is hanging on the leg of a bird (and in another narration on the wing of the bird) as soon as it is interpreted, it happens as it was interpreted.” So some scholars say that if you take your dream to a scholar, it would happen as it is interpreted by him so that’s why you must take it to a person who has knowledge about dream interpretation and or a person who would give you a sincere advice and not to the person who is envious so if the dream is interpreted it would happen as he interpreted.

However,

there is a difference of opinion regarding this issue.

And Allah سبحانه و تعالى knows best.

Dreams (رؤیا) have different kinds, authentic or not authentic, and the authentic ones are themselves symbolic or realistic.

It is He who doth take your souls by night, and hath knowledge of all that ye have done by day: by day doth He raise you up again; that a term appointed be fulfilled; In the end unto Him will be your return; then will He show you the truth of all that ye did. [6:61]

It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect. [39:42]

Actually death in Islam is not merely an almost instantaneous phenomena of soul being detached from the material body, but it is a period of life and takes some time which may be comparable to the whole person’s life in length, although it would seem like almost instantaneous to us. Dream is similar to death in that soul is detached from the material body in both of them. Even note that the word یتوفی in these two verses comes from وفی which implies completely returning back something in the sense of being troth. So that the souls can (not necessarily do as it would be clear from what follows) experience things and states as a death person experiences.

Christian

What Is the Proper Christian Perspective on Dreams and Visions?

The Bible reveals that in times past servants of God were given visions and dreams for specific reasons and/or to convey special messages. For example, Jesus gave a vision of His future Kingdom on earth to Peter, James, and John, no doubt as a witness and encouragement both to them and to us (Matthew 17:1-9).

While God has used this means of communication in the past and will do so again (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28), we must realize that He uses it only when the circumstances warrant. Even then, such revelations are ordinarily directed to His ministers and specially chosen servants such as Jacob, Joseph, Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel (see Amos 3:7).

Today, God speaks to us through the Bible. Please notice Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days [today] spoken to us by His Son.” Jesus Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:1, 14), and the Bible is the Word of God in written form. God the Father gave it to Christ. Christ, in turn, inspired both the prophets and the apostles, and they preserved it for us (II Peter 1:21; Luke 1:70; John 16:13). The Father’s will, commandments, and specific promises are revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. God, then, is actually speaking to us through His Word, the Bible.

It is not always easy to determine the origin of a vision, dream, or premonition which one might experience. Therefore, we must be very careful about ascribing to God any such communication—even if it is supernatural! We are warned to “test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1). Jude warns that sometimes false ministers use dreams and visions to deceive God’s people and create a following for themselves (Jude 8; see also Deuteronomy 13:1-5). We must be careful to separate such paranormal activity from the revealed truth of God.

God, through the prophet Isaiah, instructs us how to test the spirits: “When they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony [the Bible]! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19-20). Unless a dream or vision agrees completely with the Bible in its message and content, we can know it is not of God.

Some visions and dreams may simply be caused by mental or physical stress or the pressures of daily life. The Bible reveals that dreams may result from an upset or overly stimulated mind (Ecclesiastes 5:3). If one has had a very troubled or busy day, he might be more likely to have vivid dreams that night. Ill health or memories of unpleasant experiences may also cause such dreams.

In situations where an unpleasant dream or vision causes distress, fear, physical sickness, or any such thing, we would advise seeking God’s intervention and healing. If Satan bothers us with bad dreams, we should ask God to rebuke him (Jude 9). We should also stay close to God in prayer and Bible study so that Satan cannot bother us (James 4:7-8). God will grant us peace of mind if we walk with Him each day (Philippians 4:4-9; Isaiah 26:3).

“In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;”. The Bible says several things in this one verse. First of all, a dream is a vision of the night. The verse also teaches that a dream occurs when deep sleep falls upon men. According to the Bible, a vision is something that occurs when a man is awake, while a dream is something that occurs when a man is asleep. Some who study dreams say that we are always dreaming when we sleep, but we only remember the dreams right before we awake. This would actually fit with the scriptures in several cases where men remember a dream that actually woke them up.

From everything that I have read about dreams, it seems as though we still do not have solid answers as to what causes them. The Bible, however, does contain a verse that quite possibly gives us the cause. Consider Ecclesiastes 5:3, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” Now it is interesting that several who study dreams suggest that when your body slows down to rest, your mind continues to work. The Bible says that the multitude of business will cause dreams. This could be the multitude of physical and emotional business or it could be the multitude of mental business, but either way it appears that this is what causes us to dream. Though your body settles in rest, your mind can keep right on working and thinking.

reams can appear to be very real. Sometimes you wake up scared, sometimes mad and sometimes sad, yet you realize after a while that it was just a dream and you settle down. The Bible speaks of this in Isaiah 29:8 when it says, “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite”. You may dream of eating or drinking, but when you awake you are still empty. It may have appeared real, but it was not.

Common Purposes for Dreams

In the Bible, especially the Old Testament, the Lord used dreams for various reasons. We will not state all of them, but will give you a few to consider.

There were times when God used a dream to give a warning. Consider the twelfth verse of Matthew 2 where the Bible says, “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” The Lord appeared to the wise men here for the purpose of warning them not to return to Herod, but to go back home another way. In the very next verse Joseph is also warned of the Lord in a dream to flee into Egypt with the Lord Jesus. The very first dream that I have seen in the scripture is when God spoke to Abimelech and warned him that he had taken another man’s wife. Obviously this is a common purpose of dreams within the context of scripture.

There were times when God used a dream to reveal prophecy. Joseph was a man subject to dreams and the interpretation of dreams. In Genesis 37, Joseph dreamed a dream about his brethren bowing down to him. If you know the story of Joseph, you know that the dreams are the only evidence of this occuring until he was promoted to the second in command under Pharaoh. For approximately 13 years he had nothing else but these dreams that told of the future. If you are familiar with the Book of Daniel, you will remember that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that have a tremendous amount of prophecy in them. There are other dreams in the Bible that I would consider to fall into this category as well.

There were times when God used a dream to encourage. I would have to say that this is nowhere near as common as the first two, but I do believe there is an instance that could be construed as a dream for the purpose of encouraging obedience to the Lord. In Judges chapter 7, we find the Lord thinning out the army of Gideon before he goes to battle with the vast army of Midian. Gideon begins with 32,000 soldiers. In verse 3, we find that 22,000 went home because of fear and in verse 6, we find that 9,700 went home because of the way they drank water. This left Gideon with an army of only 300 soldiers. In this same chapter the Lord instructed Gideon that if he was afraid he should go down unto the host and then he would be strengthened. When Gideon arrived in the host, he heard a man telling a dream to another man. The interpretation of the dream just so happened to be that the army of Gideon was going to defeat the Midianites. Immediately upon hearing of this dream, Gideon was strengthened and he worshipped God. Surely the whole purpose for this man’s dream was the encouragement of Gideon.

Dreams of the Bible and Dreams Today

Now here is where people will begin to split from me and call me a heretic and all sorts of other things. I personally believe that God does not speak to men through dreams and visions today as He did in the Bible. Consider some things with me. First of all, God used dreams in the Bible to warn men of sin and wrong, but today we have His completed word that will keep us from sin. As a matter of fact the Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Something else to consider is that dreams were often for the purpose of revealing prophecy, yet we have in the word of God the revelation of the future events that God wants to make known to men. Another point to consider is Joel’s reference to prophesy, dreams and visions. In Joel 2:28 he says, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”. Now this verse is quoted as coming to pass in Acts 2:17, yet any honest student of the Bible knows that 1.) not all of what Joel said was fulfilled on Pentecost and 2.) the signs and wonders that were associated with the age of the apostles were for the Jews and went out of business during the ministry of the apostle Paul. Yet Joel still prophesied that dreams will again be a means whereby God speaks to men, but in the context of Joel 2 it is easily understood that this will occur during the time of the tribulation.

Now, let me clarify something on the other end of this argument. I very strongly believe that God can and will allow people to have dreams that could turn them to Him. For example, I believe God would allow a man to have a dream about hell, if it would keep him from going there. I just don’t believe that we can give our dreams the weight that we can give to Bible dreams. Ultimately when we dream and it causes us concern, we ought to go to God and ask Him if He is trying to teach us something. If the Lord does not burn it into your heart that He is trying to teach you something then cha chalk it up to a multitude of business and go on about your day

WHY DO WE DREAM?God uses dreams and visions to speak to us, Barbie says. They bring the communications of heaven to earth. God crafts each dream individually and uses them to speak to us in different ways and for different purposes. God reveals His plans and purposes through our dreams and visions. He shows us things ahead of time because God wants to give us a clear vision to seebeyond our present state. He also creates dreams so we can see and hear the answers to our prayers. Dreams are a vehicle for bringing a peaceful resolve to the problem areas of life. Righteous people are given advance notice of the future through dreams and visions. This insures that they have plenty of time to prepare and align themselves for success and advancement. Therefore, it seems that the dreams of the righteous are delayed, but the dreams of the wicked happen quickly. God projects images of Himself, His Word, the anointing, angels, and dreams and visions that contain His plans into our spirits, and our spirit records them. This is how we are able to recall spiritual things when they are needed. Dreams rain heavenly wisdom down upon our open hearts so we can receive God’s saving knowledge. God communicates the positives of what He sees in us and God will guide us to make the proper decisions through dreams. God intended that we get to know Him better through this process of discovering the meaning of our dreams.

Dreams reveal hidden issues, to inspire us to greatness, to keep us out of harm’s way, or to provide insight into the world around us. God leads us through a revelatory cycle of dreaming to build a transitional bridge. This connection is where our dreams become the link between His infinite wisdom and our finite thinking. Dreams have an ability to take the dreamer beyond the surface into the deep things of God, into the realms beyond where God’s creative words become spirit and truth. We find answers to life’s questions in our dreams. Dreams can restore us to health through intimacy with God.

House, discovering a new room within – if associated with positive feelings: new area of
life or ministry God will open or desires to open if you’ll cooperate. If
associated with negative feelings: a dark part of one’s life the Lord wants to expose
and/or heal.

House with a hole in the roof; house with torn or dilapidated shingles – indicates a lack of spiritual covering; having an area of life in which God’s protection has been
withdrawn due to sin or an upcoming wrong choice.

Vehicles – represents the current path or direction of one’s life due to decisions

made; can
also represent the person’s life as in the common house symbol (e.g. having difficulty
operating the clutch and controls, barely moving: indicative of a state in which one
feels out of control and not in charge of their life and current direction. Riding in a
white car with a gentle, enjoyable ride: indicative of a season of life in which God is
blessing).

Vehicles, multi-passenger (buses, trains, etc.) – same as “vehicles” above but involving a group of people such as one’s family, church, denomination, etc; (e.g. a bus wreck
with injuries: warning that a specific decision or the current course will lead to bad
results for the party involved).

Water, rushing or fast flowing – if associated with a positive feeling: indicates the
blessing of God; the presence of the Holy Spirit. (Ezek 47:1-9)